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Abstract
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A review of studies of delinquency reveals contradictory findings concerning the effects of being an only child. Generalizations usually overlook factors of age, broken home, socio-economic status, or selective criteria of delinquency. From the fairly detailed information available on 2000 juvenile offenders in Detroit, it appears that only children are only half as likely as non-only children to become offenders. Yet they are just as likely to belong to gangs, contrary to popular impression. Cultural factors are so important that family position or sibling rivalry appear to be much less important than psychoanalysts contend. 28 references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)
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